The provincial government recently announced recipients of another round of Network BC’s Connecting Citizen’s Grants - a program which helps bring broadband internet to new areas - and many of them are in the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
In total the grants for TNRD communities in this round of funding exceeds $411,000.
“With each application from the Internet Service Provider, we write them a letter of support from the TNRD,” said Peter Milobar, TNRD Chair. “These letters have proved to be a big help, as many new communities in the region now have substantial funding for broadband internet.”
The following is a list of communities in the TNRD that received funding:
ABC Communications (McLure - $43,100; Black Pines - $50,000)
Copper Valley Computers Ltd. (Nicola Lake and surrounding area - $33,300; Stump Lake - $24,400; Glimpse Lake - $20,650; Lac Le Jeune - $43,250)
Navigata (Blue River - $50,000; Pritchard - $50,000)
Lookieloo.net Sales Ltd. (Spences Bridge - $47,500)
Mascon Cable Systems (Heffley Lake - $50,000; Little Heffley Lake - $50,000)
“In addition to some of the ISP’s that received provincial funding, we are also with other ISP’s requesting use of our communication sites to bring high speed internet to unserved and underserved communities in the region,” added Liz Cornwell, TNRD deputy clerk/manager of Corporate and Community Services.
The TNRD has an ongoing commitment to supporting local internet service providers in bringing high speed internet to every corner of the region.
Since 2008, the Province has provided $6.83 million in grants for projects to establish infrastructure to bring broadband internet to rural communities in B.C.